Wednesday, January 25, 2006 2:18 PM
posted by Michael Mason Bad Health Habits Start Young First, from a recent Medpage Today article:
Bad health habits that can shorten lives start young, researchers here reported. "As adolescents become young adults, they are more likely to eat fast food, get no exercise, be obese, and smoke cigarettes," according to Kathleen Harris, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina. Those behaviors are related to three leading causes of death - tobacco use, poor diet and physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption - Dr. Harris and colleagues reported in the January issue of Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. Disturbing news all by itself. Fortunately, there's a small bit of counteractive measures being put in place, according to the BBC. For the first time, soft drinkcompanies in Europe are going to stop targetting kids under 12, and it's already starting to have a positive effect:
"This is the first time ever that the major beverage producers in Europe come together to jointly define their commitments related to responsible sales and marketing practices, especially to children and schools," he explained. As part of the proposals, Unesda members have undertaken to not to put "any marketing communication in printed media, websites or during broadcast programmes specifically aimed at children under the age of 12". It also will "avoid any direct appeal to children under the age of 12 to persuade parents or other adults to buy beverages for them".
link to this post  Wednesday, January 18, 2006 9:05 AM
posted by Michael Mason Meth Problems Overburdening the System A recent article in The New York Times reveals the heavy burden that methaphetamine addiction is putting on hospitals throughout America:
"These are labor-intensive cases, and the money that's put out is money that the hospitals won't recover," said Jeri Reese, an emergency room nurse manager in Greene County, Iowa, who is scheduled to speak at a news conference explaining the survey results.
Fifty-six percent of hospitals said their costs had risen because of the growing abuse of the drug. In Arkansas, where the problem has increased in severity recently, 78 percent of the hospitals said costs had increased.
It isn't necessarily the detox and treatment of meth addiction that's causing the strain on hospitals--it's the related health issues many addicts face. High fevers, blood pressure problems, and heartrate problems plague meth-addicted individuals, and these health problems often require hospitalization and treatment.
Emergency rooms are becoming sobering reminders that meth addiction is a serious but treatable condition. Click her to read "Hospitals Say Meth Cases Rising."
link to this post Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:43 AM
posted by Michael Mason What the Booze Can Do Normal gal Nicky Taylor conducted a dangerous experiment and has not only lived to tell about it--she's documented her descent into the world of binge drinking, and the effects are harrowing.
Similar to the fast-food expose "Super Size Me," Taylor's documentary centers on one theme: drink as much as possible every day for 30 days. Before Taylor started the alcohol-fueled marathon, she was an attractive professional who looked much younger than her 39 years. In just one month, Nicky appeared to age almost 25 years.
Doctors advised her about the damage she would cause to her body, but Taylor maintained the drinking regime so that she could show the world the negative effects of binge drinking and alcoholism. While her body took a significant amount of abuse, her mental health state also plummeted. By the end of the experiment she was depressed and exhausted.
The pictures are hard to believe, so click here to read and view"What the Booze Can Do"
link to this post Friday, January 06, 2006 8:49 AM
posted by Michael Mason Eating Disorders Related to Birth Complications? While current thought tends to attribute the cause of eating disorders to a largely psychosocial/non-biological basis, a recent study by Italian researchers has uncovered a link between birth problems and eating disorders, specifically anorexia and bulimia.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. If a fetus undergoes certain types of trouble, or a mother experiences obstetric problems, the event could cause a neurodevelopmental change that predisposes a person for anorexia later on in life:
"This type of relationship is considered evidence of a causal link and would indicate that an impairment in neurodevelopment could be implicated in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa," the researchers wrote.
Read more about brain-based causes for eating disorders here.
link to this post Tuesday, January 03, 2006 10:02 AM
posted by Michael Mason Mentally Healthy New Year's Tips Recently, our CEO, Dr. Rolf Gainer, contributed a great article to our brain injury blog, NeuroNotes, and I thought it would be worthwhile to repost it here:
Every New Year we make our annual resolutions of how we will improve and enrich our lives over the forthcoming year. Our New Year's resolutions may involve taking off those extra pounds, starting a fitness regime, spending more time with children or loved ones, giving up a bad habit or learning a foreign language. With each New Year's resolution there is the risk of a failed promise. How can we keep ourselves on track to accomplish what we set out to do in our New Year's resolutions?
Here's some ideas to consider:
Set realistic goals. For example, if weight loss is your goal, should the goal be the total weight you want to lose or an attainable number of pounds? It's easier to achieve success if the goal is realistic. This requires creating steps so that you can move towards your goal. Identify the resources you'll need to achieve your goal.
Establish a plan to achieve your goal. We often fail in our goals because we don't identify a plan. Start by defining a plan that's compatible with your life, and one you can add to your daily routine. A good example is exercise. It's easier to add 20-30 minutes of exercise per day, such as walking with a friend or family member, to your daily routine than working out in a gym where you may not feel comfortable at first. You may want to use the stairs in your office rather than the elevator or take a nightly walk with your dog to add exercise to your life. As you succeed in your plan, you add to the scope of your activities and begin working out in the gym on a daily basis.
Support your plan by making changes to your life that are enjoyable. If your goal is improve the quality of time you spend with your children, then select an activity that you mutually enjoy. This may be a good opportunity to try something new and different and for everybody to be a new learner.
Establish measures of your success. This may not be always be numbers, but solid indications to yourself about your progress. Use weekly and monthly measurements to track your success and celebrate each step towards progress.
Don't let the thought of change keep you frozen. We may plan to initiate change for ourselves, our families and loved ones in our New Year's resolutions. You should expect that the process of establishing new habits and life patterns will require your attention and devotion. Learn to accept some frustration and anxiety and look forward to enjoying the new aspects of your life. Remain flexible in your outlook and keep your options open.
Making changes is a two-handed process. A person cannot simply stop an old habit without considering what to do in its place. Smoking is a good example--it's a hard-to-break habit because it involves so much our daily routine. What can be substituted for a cigarette break? Identify an activity that you like which you can consciously substitute for the old habit which you are trying to eliminate. When you reach for that cigarette, it's time for the substitute.
Don't expect change to occur overnight. Allow yourself the time and resources you need to begin making change. Anticipate that some frustration will occur. It is important that goal setting be realistic, attainable without turning your entire life upside down.
Seek support and help. It is hard to make change and often support and help may be needed. It is not a sign of weakness to turn to friends, family and even professionals for help. There are many self-help groups which can offer support for a variety of changes. Look for resources in your community and consider professional support and help to assist you in achieving your goals.
Have fun with yourself. Break out of the mold and try something new. We" get stuck" in many of our habits in life because we haven't considered that alternatives are available. Reframe how you think about solving a problem and add "fun" to the solution.
Learn to manage stress. It is important to manage stress on a daily basis to avoid the cummulative effects. In the development of your plan, add activities which are relaxing. Give yourself opportunities for private time, even one to two minutes of a de-stressing activity several times a day can allow you an opportunity to manage stress by maintaining your perspective on your life.
Take care of yourself. That includes, your physical, psychological and spiritual health. All are equally important and all are inter-related.
Take a breath, the New Year is coming in several days and you can succeeed in acxhieving your goals by developing a sound plan.
link to this post |
Rolf B. Gainer, Ph.D., Diplomate ABDA, is the Chief Executive Office at Brookhaven Hospital and the Vice President of Rehabilitation Institutes of America. Dr. Gainer has been involved in the design and operation of treatment programs since 1977.
Stephen Harnish, MD is the Medical Director of Brookhaven Hospital. Dr. Harnish is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and is well known in Oklahoma for his informative radio and television appearances.
Aric Thorpe, MHR, is Brookhaven Hospital's Pastoral Liaison Representative. He conducts the quarterly Minister's Lifeline series and provides mental health information to pastors and clergy.
Sarah McGee serves as the Community Education Provider for Brookhaven Hospital. She provides information on mental health and drug and alcohol treatment to healthcare professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states. |
